It’s time to celebrate! With your generous support, we’ve met our fundraising goal and have completed the transfer of the beloved Haystack Mountain property to Midcoast Conservancy for ongoing management and stewardship.
Our good friends at Lake St George Brewing are hosting a party to celebrate the end of the fundraising campaign and all our wonderful supporters. Please join us for this happy event starting at 4 pm on March 9th and thank you for all your help.

On August 11, from 9-11 friends of Haystack Mountain is hosting a pruning event on Haystack’s blueberry fields. The blueberry fields are being maintained for open community picking and for wildlife. Keeping the fields in blueberries requires mowing at least every other year and routinely cutting back small trees that grow where it’s too steep or rocky for a mower. Participants should be able to safely use a handsaw, clippers or loppers. Individuals with chainsaws and familiar with chainsaw safety and use are also welcome.

Please wear rugged shoes and bring:  work gloves, tools (handsaw, clippers, loppers) bug dope or bug net, hat, water and a snack. Work for as little or long as you want. Hopefully the blueberries won’t be past by then so bring your containers. For information contact Buck at boherin1954@gmail.com

“From Haystack Mountain to the Stars”

Hosted by Friends of Haystack Mountain April13th in Belfast

Friends of Haystack Mountain (FOHM) invites you to attend a unique presentation for all ages - From Haystack Mountain to the Stars” on April 13th 2:00pm at the Colonial Theater in Belfast.

The admission for this fundraising event is “pay what you can”. All proceeds will be donated to FOHM and used to purchase, preserve and protect Haystack Mountain, located in Waldo County, from development. Suggested donation is $10 per person and $20 per family, but be as generous as you can.

The presenter, Justin Pierel, is a NASA Einstein fellow, who grew up in Waldo County, graduated from Mount View High School and Bowdoin College, and holds a doctorate in Astrophysics from the University of South Carolina. He will share his stories about spending time on Haystack Mountain in Montville and how this influenced his path to study the universe.

Dr. Pierel now works with the Hubble and James Webb telescopes at Space Telescope Science Institute at John Hopkins. He will talk about his current research on gravitational lensing and show spectacular images from space at the Colonial Theater.

FOHM is a Waldo County grassroots group, established in June 2022. They began a capital campaign in earnest to raise $525,000 to purchase the mountain. With exceptional donor support from the community, local businesses, foundations, several successful grants, and a commercial loan from Bangor Savings Bank, FOHM has less than $35,000 remaining to reach their fundraising goal. Once all debt and expenses are paid, FOHM will deed Haystack Mountain to Midcoast Conservancy, a local land trust to manage in perpetuity.

This 57-acre property on the Montville/Liberty town line has easy trail access to the bald rock summit. A beautiful panoramic view waits for those who hike to the top. The mountain has been a popular scenic destination for generations. Additionally, the Walker Elementary School teachers and students have frequently used Haystack Mountain as an outdoor classroom.

Recently, FOHM has negotiated with a local blueberry business to harvest the blueberries on the mountain, as well as provide a “pick your own” opportunity for hikers.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for this event:
Hammond Lumber
Front Street Shipyard
The Green Store
Colburn Shoe Store
Northern Tilth
Evergreen Home Performance
Revision Energy
Liberty Cabinet and Design
GO Logic

Join Friends of Haystack Mountain for a beautiful fall morning on Haystack to clear brush and small trees. The event is from 9am to 12noon and we’ll meet at the Haystack Mountain Rd Trailhead in Montville . You can come for part or all of the scheduled time. The blueberry fields are being maintained for free picking for the community and for wildlife. Keeping the fields in blueberries requires mowing at least every other year and routinely cutting back small trees that grow in where a tractor and mower cannot go. Participants should be able to safely use a handsaw, clippers or loppers.

Wear some blaze orange clothing (it’s hunting season!) rugged shoes and bring work gloves, handsaw or loppers, water and a snack. Individuals with chainsaws are welcome and should be familiar with chainsaw safety and use. Work for as little or as long as you want. When the blueberries ripen in August come back and pick all the blueberries you want! For information contact Buck at boherin1954@gmail.com

Join us to watch the fall migration of hawks and other birds on Haystack Mountain in Montville, Saturday, October 21 from 9:00am- noon. We’ll hike to the barrens atop Haystack Mountain, where panoramic views allow for great viewing and observing of southbound migrant birds of prey.  We’ll also search for other birds and enjoy fall foliage.  Meet at the Liberty Baptist Church on Rt. 173 (Main St) at Jacques Rd.  We'll drive a half mile up Jacques Rd to the Haystack Mountain Road Trailhead and walk up the access road. Waterproof shoes and binoculars are recommended.  The event is co- sponsored by Midcoast Conservancy, Sebasticook Regional Land Trust and Friends of Haystack Mountain. SRLT Board chair and skilled birder Tom Aversa is leading the walk. The hike is moderately difficult.  All ages are welcome but please leave pets at home.  We’d love to know how many people may come, so please contact Buck O’Herin, boherin1954@gmail.com to reserve space. Contact Buck at the same email address for more information.

Rescheduled due to clouds and hazy skies - New Date Thursday, September 7th, meet at 7 pm at the trailhead on Haystack Mountain R

Gather at dusk at the Haystack Mountain Road Trailhead in Montville where you’ll be directed to nearby parking. An astronomer from the Dark Sky Maine organization will lead a group up the trail and point out constellations and other starry points and talk about the importance of retaining Maine’s dark skies.

This Walk and Talk is generously sponsored by Liberty Graphics and Revision Energy.

Haystack Mountain is home to a variety of plants and native pollinators that are vital to the functioning and health of our natural environment. Join biologist Hannah Mullally of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday August 29 at 4:30. She will introduce us to incredible bees, choosy butterflies, and helpful hoverflies.

During this walk and talk, we will discuss the breadth of Maine’s native pollinators, their importance in our ecosystem and for blueberry production, and how you can support these small but mighty creatures.

Meet at the Haystack Mountain Road Trailhead in Montville, opposite Liberty Line Farm & Gardens and one-half mile south of Route 3.

All ages welcome. For more information and to reserve spots for the walk and talk, contact Buck O’Herin at boherin1954@gmail.com.

This Walk and Talk is generously sponsored by Liberty Graphics and Revision Energy.

Join Friends of Haystack Mountain and Ecologist Deb Perkins for a 90-minute walk on Haystack Mountain on August 4th at 4:30. Deb will acquaint us with some of the resident species that make Haystack their home and talk about what they need to thrive. Her 30 years of experience, infectious enthusiasm and passion for the natural world will delight and inspire. Deb has worked as a field biologist throughout North America, including in her home state of Maine.

Deb is the owner of First Light Wildlife Habitats and lives in western Maine and. Through her work she partners with landowners and stewards throughout the Northeast to co-create biodiverse habitats in their own backyards, farms, forestlands, and community spaces.

Meet at the Haystack Mountain Road Trailhead in Montville, opposite Liberty Line Farm & Gardens on Haystack Mtn Road, one-half mile south of Rte 3. Participation is limited to 20 people. To register or for more information contact Buck O’Herin at boherin1954@gmail.com.

Friends of Haystack Mountain is hosting a pruning event for Haystack’s blueberry fields on July 15, from 8-11. The blueberry fields are being maintained for free picking for the community and for wildlife. Keeping the fields in blueberries requires mowing at least every other year and routinely cutting back small trees that grow in where a tractor and mower cannot go. Participants should be able to safely use a handsaw, clippers  or loppers.

Wear rugged shoes and bring:  work gloves, handsaw or loppers, bug dope, water and a snack. Individuals with chainsaws are welcome and should be familiar with chainsaw safety and use. Work for as little or as long as you want. When the blueberries ripen in August come back and pick all the blueberries you want! For information contact Buck at boherin1954@gmail.com. Meet at the Haystack Mountain Rd Trailhead.

Celebrate the new Haystack beer at Lake St George Brewery on Route 3 in Liberty. Music by four bands, activities for kids, food trucks, auction, raffle, lots of fun!

Admission by donation.

We’ll work together on the blueberry field side of Haystack to cut back brush and trim trees.

All volunteers welcome, bring gloves, tools, saws if you can.
Meet at the trailhead on Haystack Mountain Road.